Scissors sharpener

ABSTRACT

A scissors sharpener comprising a pair of laterally spaced grinding wheels mounted on a frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes, with a rod extending in the same general direction as the axes of the grinding wheels. The ends of the rod are connected to the frame by a floating connection so that each end of the rod is capable of movement through a different or to the same extent as the other end of the rod in a plane toward and away from the grinding wheels. A carriage is mounted on the rod for movement lengthwise thereof and is pivotal with respect to the rod in a direction toward and away from the grinding wheels, with the carriage having jaws for clamping a scissors blade thereon for presenting the blade to the grinding wheels for sharpening the blade. The rod is of sufficient length and the travel of the carriage is such that the carriage can be moved into coaction and move the associated blade of the scissors into coaction with either of the grinding wheels merely by adjustably positioning the rod and moving the carriage lengthwise of the rod.

United States Patent 1 Ribar Apr. 29, 1975 1 1 SCISSORS SHARPENERWilliam J. Ribar, 4505 W. 158th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44135 22 Filed:Mar. 28, 1973 [21] Appl, No.: 345,561

[76] Inventor:

Primary E.\'aminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant ExuminerNicholas P. GodiciAttorney. Agenl, 0r Firm-Ba1dwin. Egan. Walling & Fctzer [57] ABSTRACT Ascissors sharpener comprising a pair of laterally spaced grinding wheelsmounted on a frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes. with arod extending in the same general direction as the axes of the grindingwheels. The ends of the rod are connected to the frame by a floatingconnection so that each end of the rod is capable of movement through adifferent or to the same extent as the other end of the rod in a planetoward and away from the grinding wheels. A carriage is mounted on therod for move ment lengthwise thereof and is pivotal with respect to therod in a direction toward and away from the grinding wheels, with thecarriage having jaws for clamping a scissors blade thereon forpresenting the blade to the grinding wheels for sharpening the blade.The rod is of sufficient length and the travel of the carriage is suchthat the carriage can be moved into coaction and move the associatedblade of the scissors into coaction with either of the grinding wheelsmerely by adjustably positioning the rod and moving the carriagelengthwise of the rod.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SCISSORS SHARPENER This invention relatesto improvements in tool sharpeners, and more particularly to a scissorssharpener wherein scissors can be presented to either of a pair oflaterally spaced rotatable grinding wheels of the sharpener mechanismBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In US. Pat. No. 2,753,666 dated July 10,1956 and issued to Elmer C. Sasse, there is disclosed a scissorssharpener of the general type of the present invention. However, thepresent scissors sharpener is an improved version of such Sassesharpener and facilitates the sharpening of scissors of both thegenerally straight edge variety and the pinking scissors variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a scissorssharpener mechanism which includes a pair of laterally spaced rotatablegrinding wheels mounted on a frame and wherein the rod which guides themovement of the carriage which provides for clamping of the scissorsblade for presentation to the grinding wheels, extends laterallyoutwardly of both of the grinding wheels an amount sufficient to permitthe presentation of scissors to either of the grinding wheels, merely bymoving the carriage lengthwise of the rod into generally confrontingrelation to the selected wheel. Moreover, the carriage is provided withmeans thereon for facilitating the fripping of the scissors blade andthus expediting sharpening operations on scissors.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel scissorssharpener mechanism of the general type shown in US. Pat. No. 2,753,666,but which has improved features for providing for more expeditioussharpening of scissors on the sharpener mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scissors sharpeningmechanism which embodies a pair of laterally spaced rotatable grindingwheels, which includes means for movably mounting a scissors blade onthe sharpener mechanism for presenting the blade to the selectedgrinding wheel for sharpening operations on the blade, and wherein thepresenting means comprises a rod in which the ends thereof float withrespect to the frame of the sharpener mechanism so that each end of therod is capable of movement to a different extent or to the same extentas the other end toward and away from the grinding wheels, and whereinthe rod is of such length that the carriage of the presenting means ofthe mechanism can be moved into coaction with the selected one of thegrinding wheels by sliding the carriage lengthwise of the rod intogenerally confronting relation with the selected grinding wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel scissorssharpener mechanism of the latter type wherein the carriage includesclamping jaw means for clamping the scissors blade on the carriage forpresentation to the selected grinding wheel, and wherein the clampingjaw means includes means for facilitating the insertion into and thetight gripping of the scissors blades by the clamping jaw means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a scissorssharpener which can quickly and expeditiously sharpen the blades ofdifferent varieties of scissors including for instance straight edgescissors and also pinking shears, and wherein the carriage is movablelengthwise of the frame of the mechanism for coaction with either of thelaterally spaced grinding wheels, and which includes improved means formounting the scissors blades on the carriage for presentation to thegrinding wheels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective illustration of a scissors sharpenerembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sharpener mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 taken fromthe right-hand end thereof;

FIG. 4 is a generally top plan, fragmentary illustration of asubstantially straight edge scissors blade held by the clamping jaws ofthe carriage means for presenting the blade into coaction with theconfronting grinding wheel;

FIG. 5. is a generally top plan, fragmentary illustration similar toFIG. 4, but showing a pinking scissors blade held by the clamping jawsof the carriage for presentation of the blade into coaction with theleft-hand grinding wheel;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the carriage mechanismshowing in enlarged form details of the structure thereof, including theconical spring means which coacts between the clamping jaws and the baseportion of the carriage for resisting movement of the clamping jawstoward the base upon tightening of the thumb fastener means of thecarriage, and which facilitates insertion of a scissors blade into theclamping DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now again toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is disclosed a scissors sharpening mechanism of thegeneral type ofU.S. Pat. No. 2,753,666 and comprising a frame 10 whichincludes a preferably electric motor 12 to which are operatively coupledlaterally spaced grinding wheels 14 and 16 respectively, for rotation ofthe grinding wheels about coaxial generally horizontal axes 14a and 16a.The grinding wheels are preferably of the same general type but may beof different types, and are commercially obtainable grades of grindingwheels.

The grinding wheels 14,16 are each respectively mounted in a chamber 18defined in part by end walls 20 of the sharpener housing which end wallshave been recessed as at 22 for obtaining full accessibility by thescissors blade to the grinding wheel surface. The sharpener mechanismhousing may include a handle portior 26 which facilitates theportability thereof and thus the sharpener mechanism is readily movablefrom one location to another location and is of such weight tha' thiscan be readily accomplished. A removable drawer 27 may be providedonframe 10 (FIG. 2) for catching the greater portion of the materialproduced by engage ment of the scissors blade with the grinding wheels 1and 16.

Secured to the frame l0of the sharpener mechanisn may be an auxiliaryframe 28 which can be attached b any suitable means, such as fasteners28 to the mail frame 10 of the sharpener mechanism. Mounted on auxiliaryframe 28 is a generally rigid bracket membe 32 which is of generallyC-shaped configuration in to plan, as can be best seen from FIG. 1, andwhich in cludes arm portions 34 and connecting body portion 34 whichcombine to define the general rigid C-shape configuration of bracket 32.Arm portions 34 can be removably coupled to the body portion 36 as bymeans of fastener means 36 Reference may be had to aforementioned U.S.Pat. No. 2,753,666 for a more complete description of the generalstructural arrangement of a suitable bracket 32.

Each arm portion 34 is provided with an elongated slot 38 therein, whichreceives a corresponding end of a mounting guide rod 40 which is adaptedfor movement toward and away from the body portion 36 of bracket 32. Inother words, the ends of rod 40 are received in generally floatingconnection to the bracket 32. The rod 40 lies in and is movable in aplane extending substantially parallel to the axes of the grindingwheels 14 and 16. As can be best seen in FIG. 2 the lengthwise axis ofrod 40 is preferably disposed slightly below the level of the axes ofthe associated grinding wheels.

Carriage 42 of the sharpener mechanism comprises a base portion 44mounted on the rod 40 for sliding movement with respect to the rodlengthwise thereof and also preferably adapted for rotary movement aboutthe axis of the rod toward and away from the confronting grinding wheels14 or 16. Base portion 44 includes bifurcated arm 46 projecting upwardlyfrom a base sleeve 47 encompassing the rod 40. Arm 46 clamps a baseplate 48 thereon, and as by means of depending lug 48,, received betweenthe bifurcated portions of arm 46. Foot 49 is detachably secured, as bymeans of fastener 49a, to sleeve 47 and projects laterally for slidingengagement with the top surface of body portion 36 of bracket 32. Foot49 limits the pivotal movement of the carriage 42 about rod 40 towardthe grinding wheels, and transmits the force from the carriage to thetop surface of body portion 36 of bracket 32 during lengthwise movementof the carriage relative to rod 40. Marking 50 on foot 49 may be alignedwith marking 50a (FIG. 1) on arm 46 for facilitating the positioning offoot 49 to that conventionally used for sharpening most pairs ofgenerally straight and curved edge scissors.

Base plate 48 has a pair of spaced pins 52 projecting generallyperpendicularly upwardly therefrom, with the pins being received throughapertures 54 in the respective clamping jaw member 56 and 58. A clampingor fastener member 60, which in the embodiment illustrated is a thumbscrew, extends freely through the associated clamping jaw and intothreaded coaction with the underlying base plate 48 (FIG. 6). A collaror ring portion 60,, on or coacting with the thumb screw is provided forengaging the associated jaw and thus operating to urge the respectiveclamping jaw 56,58 toward the base plate 48 and the underlying scissorsS, upon tightening of the associated thumb screw. Jaws 56,58 arepreferably of the same size and each possesses substantial area forgripping an underlying scissors blade.

A resilient means in the form of a conical coil spring 62 is providedbetween the base plate and the associated clamping jaw, for urging thejaw outwardly, the

latter occurring upon loosening of the associated thumb screw, with thespring encircling the threaded shank of the thumb screw. With such anarrangement and with the pin 52 extending a predetermined distance abovethe height of the level of the base plate 48, it will be seen that uponloosening of the thumb screw, the associated clamping jaw member 56 or58 is retained in assembled condition with the base plate and isprevented from rotating or shifting relative to the base plate, whilestill being able to move outwardly and inwardly relative to plate 48.

When it is desired to sharpen a pair of pinking scissors PS, thecarriage 42 is shifted toward the left and into coacting relation withgrinding wheel 14. The clamping action of the clamping jaws 56,58 isidentical to that aforedescribed, except that the blade of the pinkingscissors is reversed from that shown for instance in FIG. 4, so that thedistal end of the blade extends toward the right rather than toward theleft as in FIG. 4, and the teeth of the pinking shear blade projectgenerally upwardly, ,as shown in FIG. 5.

Rod 40 may be moved so as to position the carriage 42 relative to thegrinding wheel 14, 'so that the upper edge of the teeth of the pinkingshears just engage the periphery of the grinding wheel, 14. Adjustmentto accomplish this can be accomplished by loosening the threaded setscrew 49a, thus loosening the grip of the foot section 49 on the sleevesection 47. Rotative adjustment of the foot section will change theangle of the base plate 48 with respect to the confronting grindingwheel, and thus will facilitate adjusting the positioning of the bladeteeth on the pinking shears, so that the upper portion of the teeththereof just engage the periphery of the wheel.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the rod 40 is of such length and the carriage42 is movable lengthwise of the rod sufficiently so that the full lengthor extent of the cutting edge of the pinking shears can be sharpened.Moving the carriage 42 lengthwise alongthe rod 40 one or several timesso as to lightly engage the periphery of the. grinding wheel 14 with theupper portion of the scissors teeth while the wheel 14 is rotating,sharpens the teeth of the pinking shears to a fine edge. Thus, bothconventional scissors and pinking scissors can be sharpened on themechanism of the invention, and merely by placing the scissors in thecorrect clamped position on the sharpener mechanism.

The conical or tapered configuration of springs 62 enable compression ofthe spring to substantially one coil thickness upon predeterminedthreadingrotation of the associated fastener 60, to cause the respectivejaw to be moved toward the underlying base plate 48. Thus a greatplurality of thicknesses of scissor blades can be accommodated by theclamping mechanism enabling effective clamping of both thin and thickscissor blades. Moreover, the positioning recess 64 (FIG. 6)

for the spring can be maintained at a minimum depth, the latter beingpreferably just deep enough to receive the compressed spring 62.

The scissors clamping surface of the base plate 48 and the confrontingsurfaces of the clamping jaws 56,58 are preferably provided with apebble or sand finish, or some other friction generating surface, sothat a secure frictional gripping coaction exists between the jaws andthe scissors blade and the underlying base plate upon tighteningactuation of the thumb fasteners 60.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings, it will be seenthat the invention provides a novel scissors sharpener which is adaptedfor quickly switching from sharpening a conventional straight edge orcurved edge scissors to a pinking scissors, and vice versa, and whereinthe sharpener comprises laterally spaced grinding wheels with a rodextending in the same general direction as the axis of rotation of thegrinding wheels, with the ends of the rod being mounted by a floatingconnection so that each end of the rod is capable of movement to adifferent or to the same extent as the other end of the rod in a planetoward and away from the grinding wheels, and with a carriage mounted onthe rod for movement lengthwise thereof and pivotal with respect to theaxis of the rod in a direction toward and away from the grinding wheels,with the rod being of sufficient length and the travel of the carriagebeing such that the carriage can be moved into coaction with either ofthe confronting grinding wheels to sharpen the full extent of the bladeof the scissors mounted thereon. The invention also provides a novelarrangement for facilitating the mounting of a scissors on the carriagefor insuring the tight gripping coaction of the scissors on the carriagefor presentation to the selected grinding wheel.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of thefeatures shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized,that various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable sicssors sharpener a frame, a pair of. laterally spacedgrinding wheels mounted on said frame for rotation about generallyhorizontal axes, one of said grinding wheels being adapted to sharpenconventional scissors and the other of said grinding wheels beingadapted to sharpen pinking shears, a rod extending in the same generaldirection as said axes of said grinding wheels, means on said frameconnecting each end of said rod to said frame by a floating connectionhaving rod guide surfaces lying in a plane substantially parallel tosaid axes, so that each end of said rod is capable of movement to adifferent or to the same extent as the other end in said plane towardand away from said grinding wheels, a movable carriage slidably engagingsaid rod, said carriage comprising a base portion and means on said baseportion for clamping a scissors blade to said carriage, said carriagebeing movable toward and away from selected of said grinding wheels andbeing movable longitudinally along said rod for moving the scissorsblade into grinding contact with the selected one of said grindingwheels, said connections between each end of said rod and said framebeing disposed laterally outwardly a predetermined distance from thecorresponding grinding wheel whereby said carriage can movelongitudinally of said rod a sufficient amount to carry a scissors bladeinto grinding contact with the selected grinding wheel for substantiallythe full extent of the cutting edge of the blade, said clamping means onsaid carriage comprising a pair of laterally spaced clamping jawportions mounted on said base portion, means disposed between each jawportion and said base portion for resiliently opposing free movement ofthe jaw portion toward the base portion, said resilient means comprisinga conical compression spring, and fastener means coacting between saidbase portion and the respective jaw portion for adjustably forcing eachof the jaw portions toward said base portion and against a scissorsblade, to releasably clamp the blade between the respective jaw portionand said base portion, said spring encircling the respective fastenermeans and being telescopically compressible to substantially a singlecoil thickness upon predetermined actuation of said fastener means toforce said re,- spective jaw portion toward said base portion, shallowrecess means in said base portion receiving the wider end of said springfor locating the latter relative to said base portion, said recess meansbeing of a depth just sufficient to substantially receive said spring inthe completely compressed condition of the latter, pin means on saidbase portion spaced laterally outwardly from the respective fastenermeans, aperture means in each of said jaw portions through which therespective of said pin means generally loosely projects for orienting inconjunction with the respective fastener means the respective jawportion with respect to said base portion and restraining rotationalmovement of each of said jaw portions relative to said base portion inthe nonclamping condition of said jaw portions, at least one of saidportions having roughened clamping surfaces for providing increasedfrictional resistance to movement of a scissors blade in the clampingcondition of said jaw portions.

2. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastener meanscomprises a threaded fastener threadly coacting with said base portion.

3. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 wherein both said base portionand said jaw portions have friction producing means on the confrontingsurfaces thereof, for facilitating the gripping of scissors bladestherebetween and preventing movement of the scissors blade relative tothe base portion and the associated of said jaws.

4. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 including a bracket ofgenerally C-shaped configuration in plan mounted on said frame, saidbracket comprising said rod connecting means on said frame and includinggenerally parallel arm portions and connecting body por tion, said rodextending between said arm portions and being movably received in slotstherein, said slots comprising said rod guide surfaces whereby each endof said rod is capable of movement in the associated of said slots to adifferent or to the same extent as the other end of the rod in its,associated slot toward and away from the grinding wheels, said rodpositioning said carriage for movement along the rod and with respect tothe selected grinding wheel during sharpening of the scissors blade.

5. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastener meanscomprises a thumb screw disposed in threaded coaction with said baseportion, said thumb screw being accessible from the top of therespective jaw portion and having a head portion engageable with theassociated of said clamping jaw portions for moving the jaw portiontoward the confronting base portion of the carriage and againstresistance to compression of the associated conical spring.

6. A sharpener in accordance with claim 4 wherein said carriage includesan arm projecting therefrom toward said frame and means on said frameadapted for engagement with said arm for aiding in supporting themovement of said carriage lengthwise of the rod.

7. A sharpener in accordance with claim 6 wherein the axes of rotationof said grinding wheels are axially aligned.

8. A sharpener in accordance with claim 7 wherein said clamping jawportions comprise plate-like members mounted for movement toward andaway from said base portion.

said carriage and said means on said frame coacting in anti-frictionrelation and irrespective of the movement of the ends of said rod insaid slots toward and away from the grinding wheels.

11. A sharpener in accordance with claim 5 wherein the surface of saidbase portion of the carriage and the confronting surfaces of each ofsaid clamp jaw portions possess a pebble finish for frictionallygripping the associated scissors blade therebetween, upon tightening ofthe respective of said threaded thumb screws. l l =l

1. In a portable sicssors sharpener a frame, a pair of laterally spaced grinding wheels mounted on said frame for rotation about generally horizontal axes, one of said grinding wheels being adapted to sharpen conventional scissors and the other of said grinding wheels being adapted to sharpen pinking shears, a rod extending in the same general direction as said axes of said grinding wheels, means on said frame connecting each end of said rod to said frame by a floating connection having rod guide surfaces lying in a plane substantially parallel to said axes, so that each end of said rod is capable of movement to a different or to the same extent as the other end in said plane toward and away from said grinding wheels, a movable carriage slidably engaging said rod, said carriage comprising a base portion and means on said base portion for clamping a scissors blade to said carriage, said carriage being movable toward and away from selected of said grinding wheels and being movable longitudinally along said rod for moving the scissors blade into grinding contact with the selected one of said grinding wheels, said connections between each end of said rod and said frame being disposed laterally outwardly a predetermined distance from the corresponding grinding wheel whereby said carriage can move longitudinally of said rod a sufficient amount to carry a scissors blade into grinding contact with the selected grinding wheel for substantially the full extent of the cutting edge of the blade, said clamping means on said carriage comprising a pair of laterally spaced clamping jaw portions mounted on said base portion, means disposed between each jaw portion and said base portion for resiliently opposing free movement of the jaw portion toward the base portion, said resilient means comprising a conical compression spring, and fastener means coacting between said base portion and the respective jaw portion for adjustably forcing each of the jaw portions toward said base portion and against a scissors blade, to releasably clamp the blade between the respective jaw portion and said base portion, said spring encircling the respective fastener means and being telescopically compressible to substantially a single coil thickness upon predetermined actuation of said fastener means to force said respective jaw portion toward said base portion, shallow recess means in said base portion receiving the wider end of said spring for locating the latter relative to said base portion, said recess means being of a depth just sufficient to substantially receive said spring in the completely compressed condition of the latter, pin means on said base portion spaced laterally outwardly from the respective fastener means, aperture means in each of said jaw portions through which the respective of said pin means generally loosely projects for orienting in conjunction with the respective fastener means the respective jaw portion with respect to said base portion and restraining rotational movement of each of said jaw portions relative to said base portion in the nonclamping condition of said jaw portions, at least one of said portions having roughened clamping surfaces for providing increased frictional resistance to movement of a scissors blade in the clamping condition of said jaw portions.
 2. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastener means comprises a threaded fastener threadly coacting with said base portion.
 3. A shaRpener in accordance with claim 1 wherein both said base portion and said jaw portions have friction producing means on the confronting surfaces thereof, for facilitating the gripping of scissors blades therebetween and preventing movement of the scissors blade relative to the base portion and the associated of said jaws.
 4. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 including a bracket of generally C-shaped configuration in plan mounted on said frame, said bracket comprising said rod connecting means on said frame and including generally parallel arm portions and connecting body portion, said rod extending between said arm portions and being movably received in slots therein, said slots comprising said rod guide surfaces whereby each end of said rod is capable of movement in the associated of said slots to a different or to the same extent as the other end of the rod in its associated slot toward and away from the grinding wheels, said rod positioning said carriage for movement along the rod and with respect to the selected grinding wheel during sharpening of the scissors blade.
 5. A sharpener in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastener means comprises a thumb screw disposed in threaded coaction with said base portion, said thumb screw being accessible from the top of the respective jaw portion and having a head portion engageable with the associated of said clamping jaw portions for moving the jaw portion toward the confronting base portion of the carriage and against resistance to compression of the associated conical spring.
 6. A sharpener in accordance with claim 4 wherein said carriage includes an arm projecting therefrom toward said frame and means on said frame adapted for engagement with said arm for aiding in supporting the movement of said carriage lengthwise of the rod.
 7. A sharpener in accordance with claim 6 wherein the axes of rotation of said grinding wheels are axially aligned.
 8. A sharpener in accordance with claim 7 wherein said clamping jaw portions comprise plate-like members mounted for movement toward and away from said base portion.
 9. A sharpener in accordance with claim 8 wherein the grinding wheels are disposed within housings which include lateral side walls, said side walls being recessed to permit unobstructed accessibility between a scissors blade mounted on the carriage and the respective grinding wheel.
 10. A sharpener in accordance with claim 4 including means on said frame adapted for abutting sliding coaction with means on said carriage for further supporting said carriage in its movement lengthwise of said rod and with respect to said grinding wheels, said means on said carriage and said means on said frame coacting in anti-friction relation and irrespective of the movement of the ends of said rod in said slots toward and away from the grinding wheels.
 11. A sharpener in accordance with claim 5 wherein the surface of said base portion of the carriage and the confronting surfaces of each of said clamp jaw portions possess a pebble finish for frictionally gripping the associated scissors blade therebetween, upon tightening of the respective of said threaded thumb screws. 